Handle structure



April 13, 1954 T P. BARTLETT T HANDLE STRUCTURE Original Filed Aug. 6, 1948 um T. m

Patented Apr. 13, 1954 UNITED STATES OFFICE Original application August 6, 1948, Serial No.

42,921. Divided and this application September 8, 1952, Serial No. 308,471

Claims. (Cl. 190-57) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in handle structures and more particularly a handle structure disclosed but not claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 42,921, filed August 6, 1948, now U. S. Patent No. 2,613,950, issued October 14, 1952, of which this application is a division.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable handle structure that is quickly and readily clampingly attached to a suitcase so that the suitcase may be handled in a convenient manner.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a handle structure composed of two slidably connected spring urged members to which pressure members ar hingedly attached so that the same may be clampingly engaged with a suitcase.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a handle structure of the aforementioned character wherein the pressure members slidably and adjustably support side members that are hingedly attached to a telescoped hand grip, so that the device is adaptable to suitcases or the like of various depths, and further, wherein the hand grip may be disposed relatively close to or away from the portion of a suitcase on which the handle structure is attached.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a handle structure primarily adapted for suitcases and which handle structure is extremely simple and practical in construction, strong and reliabl in use, neat and attractive in appearance, light in weight, inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other Objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a suitcase and showing the present invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantialh through the center of the handle structure;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken substantially on the plane of section line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line i4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 5-5 of Figure 6; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end portion of the suitcase used. in conjunction with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, where in for the purpose of illustration, ther is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral Hi represents the handle structure generally, including a pair of substantially rectangular inner and outer straps or memhers I? and M.

A plurality of longitudinally spaced guide pins it are fixed to the inner section 22 and project outwardly therefrom to slidably engage a longitudinal slot it provided in the outer section or strap it.

In order to normally urge the straps I2 and it inwardly relative to each other, there is provided an elongated resilient member or coil spring 20, the ends of which are anchored to holding pins 22, 2d and are fixed to the respective straps l2 and M.

Suitably secured by adhesive means or the like to the inner face of the strap 12, is a pair of substantially rectangular strips of resilient material 26 having serrated or toothed bearing surfaces 28.

The outer end of the strap i2 is notched and apertured, as at 32, to pivotally engage the reduced arcuate end portions 34 of a side member or section 38 and the outer end of the strap 14 is also apertured, as at ill, to pivotally engage the reduced arcuate end 42 of a further side memher or section 4t.

Fixed to the inner faces of the side sections 36 and M, by rivets or the like 1-6, are holding plates 48 to which there are fixed resilient pads 50 preferably formed with toothed or serrated bearing surfaces 52. These rivets 46 are provided with substantially rectangular head portions 54 that slidably engage longitudinal slots 56 provided in a pair of side elements or straps 58.

Further, guide pins t0 are also fixed to the side sections 3% and is and engage the slots 56 to permit only longitudinal movement of th straps relative to the side sections at and M.

Threaded studs integral with the heads of guides 54 receivably engage wing nuts 532 which are adjustable to bear against the straps 58 in order to adjustably retain the straps 5B in a selected extended position relative to the side sections 36 and M.

An auxiliary, substantially channel-shaped guide 64 is fixed to the side section 36 and slidably receives and supports the strap 58 during longitudinal movement thereof relative to said side section 36.

A pair of slidably engaged concavo-convexed hand gripping sections 56 and B6 are provided with reduced arcuate or looped outer terminals 30 that engage notches #2 in the upper ends of the straps 5B and openings or apertures M adjacent the upper ends of the straps 58 for pivotal movement of the straps 58 relative to the hand grips 6t and 538.

To prevent disengagement of the hand grips 56 and 68 from each other, there is provided a pair of detents or lugs it which are integral with one of .the grips and which bear against the remaining grip.

A transverse bar 18 is fixed by welding or the like to the central portion of the inner section 52, between the pads or strips 26, and includes outwardly projecting terminal hooks that will engage headed bolts or fasteners t2 that are removably carried by one end wall 813 of a suitcase or baggage 8S. 7

In practical use of the present invention, the side sections 38 and M of the handle structure It are pulled outwardly away from each other and placed on opposite sides of the suitcase 8% The spring 26 will urge the said side sections 38 and 4d inwardly to bear against the outer faces of the suitcase 86, and the terminal hooks 89 will engage with the fasteners 82 to prevent move ment of the handle structure it relative to the suitcase. The wing nuts 52 are tightened when the grips 6B and 68 are disposed at a selected extended position relative to the straps l2 and M.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A handle structure for suitcases and the like, said handle structure comprising a pair of slidably connected straps, means urging said straps inwardly toward each other, bearing members hinged to said straps, a hand grip, side members carried by said hand grip, means carried by said bearing members slidably engaging said side members, and means adjustably securing said side members to said bearing members, saidhand grip including a pair of slidably connected sections.

2. A handle structure comprising a pair oi-slidably connected juxtapositioned rigid straps each having an outer end, a pair of arms hinged to the outer ends of said straps, spring means connecting and urging the outer ends of said straps toward each other, a pair of elongated side members having lower portions overlapping said arms, means slidably and adjustably securing the side members to the arms, and a hand grip including a pair of slidably connected sections having outer ends attached to the upper ends of said side members.

3. A handle structure comprising a pair of slidably connected juxtapositioned rigid straps each having an outer end, a pair of arms hinged to the outer ends of said straps, spring means connecting and urging the outer ends of said straps toward each other, a pair of elongated side members having lower portions overlapping said arms, means slidably and adjustably securing the side members to the arms, and a hand grip including a pair of slidably connected sections having outer ends attached to the upper ends of said side members, and a resilient pressure pad secured to the inner face of each of said arms.

4. A handle structure comprising a pair of slidably connected juxtapositioned rigid straps each having an outer end, a pair of arms hinged to the outer ends of said straps, spring means connecting and urging the outer ends of said straps toward each other, a pair of elongated side members having lower portions overlapping said arms, means slidably and adjustably securing the side members to the arms, and a hand grip including a pair of slidably connected sections having outer ends attached to the upper ends of said side members, said spring means comprising a coil spring overlying and paralleling said straps and terminally attached to the outer ends of said straps.

5. A handle structure comprising a pair of slidably connected juxtapositioned rigid straps each having an outer end, a pair of arms hinged to the outer ends of said straps, spring means connecting and urging the outer ends of said straps toward each other, a pair of elongated side members having lower portions overlapping said arms, means slidably and adjustably securing the side'members to the arms, and a hand grip including a pair of slidably connected sections having outer ends attached to the upper ends of saidside members, a transverse bar fixed to one of said strapsand having terminal hooks projecting laterally from said one of said straps and adapted to engage headed fasteners secured to one wall of a suitcase.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,381,706 Larsen Oct. 11, 1932 2,570,069 Novak Oct. 2, i951 

